SHIFT - diabetes education kit
Emma Fratila
"ion mincu" university of architecture and urbanism
"Shift" is an interactive educational kit designed to combat the stigma surrounding teenagers with type 1 diabetes by cultivating empathy. Statistics indicate that 65% of youth with this condition face marginalization due to a lack of awareness among their peers. Addressing this issue, the project turns empathy from a purely theoretical concept into a practical exercise, centered on direct user experience. The system proposes a one-week simulation where students experience the daily medical routine of a patient. The kit consists of four devices equipped with tangible physical feedback: a glucotest, a lancing pen, an insulin pen, and a monitor. Through these objects, users simulate blood glucose testing, treatment administration, and the management of medical alerts, reacting to simulated fluctuations. At the end of the module, the teacher receives a detailed report on the user's engagement and responses. Through its interactive design, "Shift" does not merely explain the theoretical impact of diabetes; it invites the public to experience it firsthand. This approach generates a profound understanding of this reality, ultimately fostering social inclusion.